Means to orient a tool in a well



uan. 17, {93.9.

J. c. HEwrrT, JR., r Al.

MEANS TO ORIENT A TOOL IN A WELL Filed Apiil l5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet lV [N VEN TOR Ja//A/ a #fw/77 d BY Kia/MQ@ KUS TE@ I ATTORNEY Jan, 17, 1939.

J. c.v HEWITT, JR.,v ET Al.

MEANS TO ORIENT A TOOL IN A WELL Fild A8121 15, 1935 62 f (6o/f 62j if w W4 ATTORNEY Jam.A A17, 1939. J. c. HEwlTT, JR., Er AL MEANS TO, ORIENT A TOOL IN A WELL 3 sheets-sheet s Filed April 15, 1935 r llllllllllllllllll. llllllllllm B y M 'A TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lVIEANS TO ORIENT A TOOL IN A WELL John C. Hewitt, Jr., and Vivian Edward Kuster, Long Beach, Calif.

Application April 15, 1935, Serial No. 16,460

5 Claims.

This invention relates to oil well surveying apparatus and particularly pertains to a method and means of measuring the inclination of well tools.

In the operation and drilling of oil wells and the like it is often desirable to ascertain the exact position and orientation of a tool at the lower end of a drill string within a well. This is particularly desirable when whipstock drilling is required, since under that condition it is necessary to ascertain the direction of the whipstock within the hole. Various methods have been employed in an effort to maintain the whipstock in a given position as a drill string with a whipstock on its end is run into the hole, and due to conditions which may arise during the lowering of the whipstock as brought about by movement and rotation of the drill stem, and by conditions within the Well with which the driller is not familiar, these methods for the most part are uncertain. In some instances gyroscopic apparatus has been used to obtain the orientation of the drill stem and the tool carried thereby, but these are expensive and are of delicate construction. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide means adapted to be used in connection with oil well drilling tools and by which a positive and definite reading may be readily obtained to indicate the exact angular relation relative to the direction of dip of a tool at the bottom of a well without requiring that any particular care or manipulation be had in the lowering of the tool to mainain it in any desired set position.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a catcher disposed within and adjacent the lower end of a drill string and within which a recording instrument may be lowered from above ground to assume a predetermined set position with relation to a tool carried by the drill string and to prepare an accurate record of the angular relation of the tool relative to the deviation of the drilled hole from the vertical.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a 'View in section and elevation showing an instrument embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in transverse section through the film holder of the instrumenty as seen on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section through the instrument as seen on the line 3-3'of Fig. 1, and as disclosing the bubble plate Aforming a part of the device and in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section through the device as seen on the line 4-4 of Fig. l, and discloses the orienting pins and their resilient mountings and in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the orienting pins in a random engagement with the spiral groove of the orienting mandrel and in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged View in vertical section showing the photographic recording portion of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the whip-stock and the instrument embodying the present invention associated therewith.

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical section and elevation showing another form of the invention showing means for producing another form of orientation record.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the scribing device as seen on line 9--9 of Fig; 8 and in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a view showing a whip-stock and the instrument embodying the present invention associated therewith.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I indicates a drill string at the lower end of which a desired type of tool, such as a whipstock may be carried. It is to be understood that the tool has been assembled and afxed to the lower end of the drill string in a known angular position thereto. Mounted within a lower section of the drill string is a sleeve II which has a relatively long tubular portion I2 terminating in its lower end in an end wall I3, and at its upper end in an inverted frusto-conical mouth I4. A flange I is formed around the upper enlarged edge of the member I4 and rests upon the upper end face of the lower drill string section where it is held by the coupling collar I6 used to secure adjacent sections of drill pipe together. Lugs I'I are mounted on the drill string at the lower end of the member II and thus the device is held in a properly centered position holes I4' in the mouth I4 and holes I3 in the end wall I3 permitting a flow of circulation fluid through the drill string. Formed along the Wall of the tubular member I2 and extending longitudinally is a plate I8 carrying a plurality of yieldable pins I 9. These pins are here shown as being three in number` and are spaced equi-distant to each other longitudinally of the plate. By reference to Fig.

1 of the drawings it will be seen that the pins are disposed radially of the tube I2 and that they have an enlarged portion 29 which limits the amount of projection of the pins into the central opening 2| of the tubular member l2. A spring 22 is provided to hold the pins I9 yieldably in their innermost positions for a purpose to be hereinafter described. In order that the circulation of drilling fluid will not be retarded the tubular member l2, as well as the mouth portion I4, and the bottom I3, may be suitably perforated to allow free flow of fluid. The sleeve l2 when lowered into a well with the drill string forms a suitable catcher for a recording instrument 23 shown in position in Fig. l, and shown in part in the enlarged section of Fig. 6. This device includes an orienting mandrel 24 and a recording structure 25 carried above the orienting mandrel and attached thereto.

The mandrel 24 is formed with a lower pointed end 26 which may easily find its way into the tapered end of the mouth portion I4 of the sleeve I2. Formed longitudinally of the mandrel is a helical groove 21 of relatively wide pitch so that it describes a relatively small number of convolutions in the surface of the mandrel. The upper end of this helical groove terminates in a longitudinally extending groove portion 28, in the bottom wall of which a metal contact key 29 is mounted. This key has a longitudinally extending raised face 39 which is, however, below the surface of the circumferential face of the mandrel. The key 29 is insulated from the mandrel by insulating means 3| and 32 so that electrical connection can only be made by direct contact with the key. It will be understood that the terminal of the light bulb 53 not in contact through members 36' with the battery 36 is grounded on the instrument so that the battery circuit will be completed through the metal parts of the device only when pin I9 contacts with member 29. An extension of the contact key 29 is indicated at 33. This projects upwardly and is fastened to an electric conductor 34 which leads through the bottom of the instrument case 35 and makes contact with one terminal of an electric battery 36. The other terminal of the battery connects with the light bulb 53. The bottom of the instrument case 35 is closed by a plug 31 carried by the upper end of the mandrel 24. Plug 31 has an external seat 38 mounted within the case 35 and has a reduced threaded portion 39 which receives a tubular inner sleeve 4U. This sleeve telescopes Within the tubular case 35 and is closed at its upper end by a threaded plug 4|. Disposed beneath the battery 36 and interposed between it and the upper end of the plug 31 is an insulating disc 42. A removable insulating sleeve 43 rests upon'this disc and is formed with a central bore to receive the battery 36. The sleeve is cut away at one side near its top as indicated at 44 to provide clearance for a contact spring 45, the upper end of which is secured by a screw 46 to an insulating plug 41, the lower end being in contact with the upper terminal 48 of the battery 36. The plug 41 rests upon the upper end of the sleeve 43 and is threaded into a liner 48 which supports an aperture disc 49 at its upper end and holds this disc against the lower face of a sleeve 50 as shown in Fig. 6. Disposed between the disc 49 and the plug 41 is an insulating tube 5| which is formed with a central opening 52 therethrough and within which opening a light bulb 53 is mounted. A suitable socket 54 is carried by the plug 41 and receives the light bulb 53, which. is

connected through the terminal 36 with the battery 36. Light from this bulbi is projected through an aperture 55 formed centrally of the aperture disc 49` This light beam passes upwardly to encounter a bubble cell 56. This is formed with a cylindrical wall 51, a lower wall 58 of transparent material such as glass, and an upper wall 59 of the same material. The lower glass disc 58 rests upon the upper face of the internal sleeve 59 within the sleeve 49. Mounted above the bubble cell 56 and holding the same in place is a threaded sleeve 60, the lower end of which rests against the upper face of the member 59. This sleeve is threaded into the main tubular sleeve 49 above which the plug 4| is positioned. The threaded sleeve 6l! receives a tubular film holder 6| having an annular groove 6 I at its lower end which carries a photographic film or plate 62 and holds the same in position to make a photographic image of a bubble 62, Fig. 6 which is formed by the liquid contained within the bubble cell 56. The position of the bubble 62 serves to indicate the inclination of the instrument. The photographic member 62 is fixed within the member 6| in a denite position with relation to a longitudinal keyway 63 extending lengthwise of the member 6| and adapted to receive a screw or pin 64 by which the photographic sleeve and lm will be held in known orientation to the outer shell 35 of the orienting instrument 23 by reason of the groove 63 and pin 64. The upper end of the shell 35 is closed by a removable cover 66 carrying a rope socket or bail 61 receiving a suitable suspending line 68.

In operation of the present invention the drill string I9 is lowered into the well with a suitable tool at its lower end, such for example as a whipstock as generally indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The whipstock has a definite angular position with relation to the drill string. The sleeve is set within the drill string lll above the whipstock so that pins |9 have a deiinite angular position with relation to the drill string, and thus with relation to the tool. Attention is particularly called to the fact that the present instrument is not intended to be used to obtain a true meridian orientation of the tool, but to obtain a record showing the difference in the relation existing between the plane of deection of the hole and the position of the tool therein. Above ground the surveying instrument is prepared with the photographic plate or lm 62 in a fixed position within the tube 6| and the tube in turn in a Xed position of orientation with the instrument by reason of the engagement of pin 64 with the longitudinal groove 63 formed in the tube 6|. The instrument is then lowered into the well on a cable or line 68, and in some instances might be freely dropped. When the device reaches the sleeve the point 26 of the mandrel 24 will be centered in the mouth I4 of the mandrel and will then pass downwardly along the portion 2 of the member Il. It will be recognized that since the entire instrument has been lowered freely into the drill string l it will not have any particular position of orientation, but would merely force its way downwardly and force the pins |9 outwardly to permit the mandrel to be lowered. Due to the fact that the helical groove 21 occurs around the outer surface of the mandrel 24 it is evident that at some point in the lowering of the mandrel this groove will encounter one of the pins I9 and the pin I9 will project therein as urged by the spring 22. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings this might occur along the plane of section line 5--5. It will thus be evident that as the mandrel continues its downward movementl it will be rotated, since the pins I9 are carried by the sleeve II which is non-rotatable. Eventually the pin I9, which has forced its way into engagement with the groove 21, will enter the longitudinal groove 28 and will then ride up on the contact member 29 to complete an electric circuit through the contact member from the battery 36 to the bulb 53 and from the bulb to the other pole of the battery through the ground connection. At that time a light beam will be projected upwardly through the aperture 55 in the disc 49 and will be projected through the body of liquid within the bubble cell 56 to make a photographic exposure on the photographic plate or lm 62. The body of liquid within the bubble cell 56 has been so measured as to insure that when the bubble cell is exactly horizontal a space 8D will occur between the surface of the liquid and the plate 59 as shown in Fig. 3. When, however, the instrument is inclined in any direction the surface of the liquid will contact with the under face of the member 59 on the low side and will cause an oval shaped bubble to occur on the high side of the instrument, and a crescent shaped liquid contact surface will occur on the low side of the instrument. In the present instance it will be assumed that the instrument is inclined toward the left, in which instance a bubble 8| will be formed beneath the cover plate 59 as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. When a photographic shadow graph is made by the beam of light which passes through the bubble cell, the bubble and liquid surface containing the member 59 will appear on the lm in contrasting densities. It will be possible to ascertain the high side of the instrument and also the degree of inclination. By this arrangement it will be evident that the declination of a drilled hole may be readily ascertained by the use of this device and that at the same time it will be possible to accurately and rapidly determine the relative angular positions of the lower end of the drill string and with relation to the high or low side of the hole. the sleeve I I with its pins I 9, and the tool carried by the drill string.

Attention is directed to the fact that extending longitudinally of the orienting mandrel 24 is a groove 28. This groove is a continuation of the groove 28 previously described as being the upper terminating portion of the helical groove 21. By these means it will be evident that if the pin I9 engages the helical groove 21 at a point lower than the point at which it will contact the longitudinal' groove 28', the pin will directly enter this groove and maintain the member 24 against rotation as the instrument is further lowered. It is also evident that when the instrument reaches its seated position, all of the pins I9 will be in alignment within the groove 28 and that the mandrel 24 could not be withdrawn, since the pins` I9 would bind in the helical groove 21. Thus, as the mandrel 24 is withdrawn, the pins pass from the groove portion 23 and then along the longitudinal groove 28.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a slightly different method of operation is provided and a slightly different means of obtaining an angularly related record by the instrument. In the forms of the device previously disclosed it was necessary that the instrument come to rest in a predetermined xed relationship toI the casing and the sleeve II therein. In the form of the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the instrument may come to rest in any position of orientation which it may assume when it comes to seat within the sleeve I I, after which a permanent mark is made upon the instrument by a scribing member in known angular relation with the drill string and the tool carried thereby, and since the photographic plate and the elements of the instrument are in a denite relationship to each other, it will be possible to ascertain readily the position of the instrument with relation to the scribing member, and thus its position with relation to the tool carried by the drill string. The structure shown in Fig. '1 of the drawings comprises a recording structure 25 previously described and shown in detail in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings. At the bottom of this recording structure an insulating sleeve is provided over which a metal sleeve 86 is disposed. The metal sleeve is in electrical connection with the battery 36 and the light bulb 53. previously described. Below the sleeves 85 and 86 a point 81 occurs. This pointed portion extends downwardly and comes to rest on a stop 88 carried in the drill string. It is preferable that in this case the surveying instrument be held in alignment by sl-eeve II, and that this sleeve carry a scribing member 89. The scribing member comprises a spring leaf which flexes inwardly through the slotted opening 96 in the sleeve and is formed at its terminating end with a cam face 9| which will be forced outwardly by an inclined face 92 formed directly above the point 81 when the instrument is withdrawn. On the inner face of this leaf is a scribing point 93 which will engage the metal sleeve 86 and will scribe a longitudinal groove in this sleeve as the instrument is moved downwardly and which will at the same time complete the electric circuit to ground so that the exposure of the photographic lm may be made. It will thus be evident that by this arrangement the sleeve 86 will carry a record as well as the photographic lm or plate, and it will be possible then to ascertain the exact angular relation of all of the parts with relation to the lm when a reading is made.

From the foregoing it will be evident that there are three diierent points which have a fixed relationship to each other, as for example in the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 8. It is to be understood that the defiecting face of the whip-stock has a definite relationship to the drill string, that the scribing point 93 has a definite relationship to the drill string and the whip-stock, and that the groove in the member 6 I carrying the film 62 has a definite relation to the case of the instrument. Thus, in the form of invention shown in Fig. 8 the groove 6I and the pin 64 will bear a xed relationship to the mark scribed upon the member 86 by the member 93. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1. the pin 64 and the groove 6I would have a definite relationship to the upper straight end 30 of the groove in the member 24. Upon these definite and fixed points the accuracy of the record is predicated. For example in Fig. 3 of the drawings the deflecting surface of the whip-stock is indicated by dotted lines at |00. Since this is in known orientation with the scriber 93 it will thus be in known orientation with the mark scribed on the sleeve 86 as here indicated at IUI The keyway 6I which is in xed relation with the lm will be in a clenite relationship to the scribed mark and at a denite relationship to the bubble made on the film. Calculations may then be made with relation to the center axis through the bubble as here indicated at |02 using the degree readings from the scribed mark and the key with relation to the center of the axis |02 so that the diierence between the plane of deection of the hole as represented by the bubble and the plane of deiiection of the whip-stock may be extended. It will, of course, b-e understood that since this is not a magnetic instrument that in the event the hole is exactly straight there would be no reading due to the fact that no bubble would appear on the record disc.

Attention is directed to the fact that by the use of any of the forms of the invention here disclosed in the drill string just above the core drill it is possible to take a reading of the angular relation of a core. This is done by taking the core and then before breaking it from the earth formation or before the pipe is rotated after the core is broken, to then run the instrument into the receiving sleeve i I, which will be disposed in fixed relation to the core barrel. It will then be possible to ascertain the definite relationship of the instrument to the core bore and the core and to obtain an oriented reading with relation to the core itself.

While the term sleeve has been used throughout the specification as the member receiving the instrument, it is to be understood that any other suitable form of catcher or receiving device might be used within the scope of the present invention.

It will thus be seen that the device here disclosed, while decidedly simple in operation, provides an instrument which may readily be run into a drill string and withdrawn therefrom, and by which the degree of declination of the drill string may be determined, as well as the angular position therefrom of a tool carried thereby.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, as now known to us, it' will be understood that Various changes might be made in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well surveying apparatus comprising a catcher disposed in a fixed position both longitudinally and circumferentially within a drill pipe, said pipe carrying a tool at its lower end fixed in known orientation with the pipe, a well surveying instrument adapted to be lowered into the drill string and to a xed position of rest within said catcher, cooperating means between the catcher and the instrument for designating the oriented relationship of the catcher and instrument when the instrument comes to rest, and means .within the instrument to produce a record indicating the oriented position of the instrument with the catcher.

2. A well surveying apparatus comprising a catcher disposed in a xed position both longitudinally and circumferentially within a drill g surveying instrument adapted to be lowered into the drill string and to a iixed position of rest within said catcher, cooperating means between the catcher and the instrument for designating the oriented relationship of the catcher and instrument when the instrument comes to rest, and means within the instrument to produce a record indicating the oriented position of the instrument with the catcher and the degree of declination of the drill string.

3. A well surveying apparatus comprising a catcher within a drill pipe, a tool carried by the pipe and with which said catcher is in known orientation, a well surveying instrument adapted to be lowered through the drill pipe to a position of rest within the catcher, cooperating means between the instrument and the catcher for designating the oriented relationship of the catcher tothe instrument when the instrument comes to rest, and means for making a record of the oriented relationship of the instrument to said tool.

4. An instrument for rotationally setting a tool within a Well and in' relation to the plane of deflection of the well bore which comprises in combination with a drill string carrying a tool to be set and in Axed relation thereto, ajafher within the drill string in fixed relation thereto, an". Y

instrument adapted to be lowered into the catcher to a seated position, said instrument including a bubblemcell responsive to the declination of the instrument, a photbgraphic 'element within the instrument and disposed in Aiixed relationship to the instrument, illuminating, means for illuminating the bubble cell and causing an image to be made thereof on the photographic element, cooperating means between the catcher and the instrument for indicaiillgjlleiI'Otative position of the instrument with relation to the catcher when the instrument is seated within the catcher, and control means for the illuminating means acting when the instrument is seated within the catcher to cause illumination thereof.

5. An instrument for rotationally setting a tool within a well and in relation to the plane of deflection of the well bore which comprises in combination with a drill string carrying a tool to be set and in xed relation thereto, a catcher within the drill string in fixed relation thereto, an instrument adapted to be lowered into the catcher to a seated position, said instrument comprising a case, a mark receiving element circumscribing the case, a marking element carried by the catcher to produce a mark on the mark receiving element when the instrument has been lowered toits seated position within the catcher, a bubble cell within the case, a photographic element at one side of said bubble cell, means for holding the photographic element in a denite and known rotational position within the case, a source of light within the case upon the opposite side of the bubble cell, a source of electrical energy therefor, an electric circuit including the source of light and the source of electrical energy and circuit closing means including the marked receiving member and the marker.

, JOHN C. HEWITT, J R. V. EDWARD KUSTER. 

